Despite a big jump in beach attendance in the 2013-14 season from the two previous years, lifesavers on Wollongong beaches were forced to handle just 243 rescues compared with 433 in 2011-12 and 380 last year.

Lifesavers conducted 7517 preventative actions at the 17 surf club-patrolled beaches last year, compared with 6376 in 2012-13.

"Prevention is better than cure, and the focus is prevention. We have been very strong on this recently, and the proof is in the pudding," Surf Life Saving Illawarra executive officer Carl Nottage said.

"Our members are getting better at what they do. It's good to know if they remain vigilant we can keep people safe and have to do less rescues."

Mr Nottage said preventative actions included advising swimmers to stay between the flags, advising beach users of rips or other dangerous conditions, and bringing drifting swimmers back within the lifesavers' lines of sight.

"We put the flags in the safest part of the beach. Rather than trust your own judgment, it's best to follow the lifesavers who know the beach," Mr Nottage said.

Last season was overall a safe one on Wollongong's beaches, with 243 rescues and 265 first-aid treatments by lifesavers. In 2012-13, lifesavers administered 1431 first aids, anumber attributed to an influx of bluebottles.

"If we get north-easterly winds, calm conditions and hot weather, it blows bluebottles onto the coast," said lifesaving director of education Craig St George.

"If we get a dry hot summer, we could end up with more bluebottles on the beaches."

Mr St George said focus was always on prevention and education, to intervene so swimmers do not need to be rescued.

"We teach our lifesavers, always education first. We want to give people some knowledge so they don't get into trouble," he said.